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The 4th of July wouldn’t be complete without a backyard cookout! Nothing says summer like the smoky smell of a grill and the crack of bottle rockets. So break out the charcoal and plan a patriotic 4th of July cookout that will make all the neighbors jealous!

Let’s face it, there are few things more harmonious than an ice cold beer, a barbecue, and fireworks when you’re enjoying the 4th of July. That is, until it’s time to spend the day with the little ones (who think Bottle Rockets are some kind of candy). Well, we’ve got your back! Here are 5 kid-friendly ways to enjoy the 4th, whether you’re entertaining a festival of children or hosting a small backyard party.

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4th of July: Happy Independence Day!

The day of our country’s independence means it’s time to wave your American flag with pride, throw on some red, white, and blue, and shoot off fireworks in celebration. Whether you’re holding a city-wide fireworks display, local fireworks shoot in a park, or a shindig at your home, GigSalad has some great party tips for your 4th of July Party.

Who, What, and Where

A 4th of July party is generally held outside. If you are having an all day celebration, you’ll want to rent some tents to set up around the party area for people to get some shade or sit and eat some BBQ. In addition to the tent(s), you will need some tables and chairs for everyone to relax and eat on. Most tent rental companies also offer table and chair rental. Do some research first to find a local company who provides all the services you need; it may be cheaper to rent everything from one place.

At your party, you will need some other entertainment during the day while everyone is waiting for it to get dark so the fireworks show can begin. Strolling entertainment is usually a pretty solid choice. Everyone is wandering around the park or wherever you’re holding the event and these entertainers are, therefore, mingling with everyone. To go along with the spirit of the holiday, that is America’s independence, hire a presidential impersonator. You can go recent and hire a Bill Clinton or George Bush, but older presidents like Abe Lincoln and George Washington are fun to have present as well. Other strolling entertainers could be a stilt walker decked out in red, white, and blue or magician. You could also have stations for entertainers that provide more of a service, like caricaturists, face painters, and balloon artists. If you have the budget for it, you could also rent some inflatable bounce houses, carnival games, and/or rides. Just another activity to keep the kids having a good time throughout the day!

Fire Up The Grill

Nothing says 4th of July like a grill fired up cooking some burgers and brats! If you’re having the event at your house, you should be able to designate someone as head griller to keep the food stocked. For a larger community event, you’ll want to hire a caterer to come in and cook up the food for you. Also, for larger outdoor events, another fun food item would be concessions like sno-cones, cotton candy, and funnel cakes.

We’ve got the food covered, so now it’s time to move onto beverages. Since your event is more than likely outdoors, be sure to stock up on a lot of bottled water since it is hot in July. At your concession shacks, also offer other soft drinks. You can also offer alcoholic beverages at your party. At a community event, you’ll want to have a designated area for alcohol, like a beer garden, since a 4th of July display is generally a family event. This would prevent any underage drinking from happening. For an at home event, you could hire a bartender to keep the drinks flowing.

Let the Fireworks Light Up the Night

While you’re guests are strolling, enjoying their hot dog, drink, and entertainment, have some music playing as well. For a community event, you can set up a stage and have a band performing American classics. You could hire an orchestra, patriotic band, or other party band to keep the party rockin’. Have the band play the National Anthem before the fireworks display.

Last, but certainly not least, is the fireworks! This is the part of the evening that everyone is looking the most forward to! If you’re hosting the party at your house, make sure you use safety precautions while shooting off the fireworks. For a large community event, hire a pyrotechnician to do the show for you. They know the legal regulations for your state when it comes to fireworks, and they are the best option if you want to have a professional show. If you want to get really fancy, you could coordinate the fireworks display to go along with music. It would take some work between the band and the pyrotechnician in advance but worth it in the end!

The 4th of July is one of the highlights of the summer. It’s a wonderful reason to kick back, relax, enjoy a great summer day with fantastic fireworks. Is a large event too much to plan on your own? Hire an event planner to coordinate everything for you. Have a fun and safe 4th of July!